Conveyer



. 5 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. A. JEFFREY.

I GONVEYER.

(No Model.)

' No. 340,321. Patented Apr. 20, 1886;

l up Invamtor/ Wtnesse Witnesses (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. A. JEFFREY.

' UONVEYER.

- No. 340,321. Patented Apr. Z0, 1886.

'lll 1 8 WWI" 1 4 m mm:

III/I U a I fizz/anion (I) A (No Model.) 5 Sheets-She2t 4.

J.A.JEFFR EY. CONVEYER.

No. 340,321. Patented Apr 20, 1886.

. Ashingmm n. c.

' fication.

UNTTED STATES PATENT FrioE.

JOSEPH A. JEFFREY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

CONVEYER.

Application filed June 19, 1885. Serial No. 169,200.

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. JEFFREY, a citizen of the United States, residing at C0- lumbus,in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveyers, of which the followingisaspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, illustrating my invention; Fig. 1 is a similar view, some of the parts being omitted, and showing a slightly different construction. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the chain, taken from the side opposite from that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the chain with the links in such position that the parts may be detached from each other. Figs. 4, 5. 6, 7, 8, 9,10, and 13 are details. Fig. llis a transverse section of the chain on line a: m, Fig. 2. Fig. 12 is a transverse section on line 9 1 Fig. 3. Fig. 14 is a plan or top view of Fig. 1, part of the trough sections being removed to show the chain. Fig. 15 is a detached view of the trough section or co'nveyersection in perspective and enlarged. Fig. 16 shows a modification of the trough-section and means for supporting the upper loaded line of the chain. Fig. 17 is a plan view of a modi- Fig. 18 is a plan view showing the modified form of rollers used for supporting the lower line of the chain.

The object of my invention is to construct a practically endless conveyer mounted upon and carried by a driving-chain, or two or more driving-chains arranged in parallel lines; and to this end one part of the invention consists, essentially, in the combination of adriving-chain and a series of openended carriersections arranged in close proximity to each other, as will be hereinafter fully explained. The invention further consists in certain details of construction and combination.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

Iwill first describe the construction of a detachable chain having anti-friction rollers applied thereto, which [propose to use for the more perfect carryingout of my invention, and will afterward describe the conveyortrough sections and some modified forms of the invention. I

i will first describe in detail the construc- EBQIFIC.-LTIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,321, dated April 20, 1886.

(No model.)

tion of the separate parts, and afterward explain their relation to each other when united to form a chain and placed in different rela tive positions.

Referring to the drawings, A B O is one of the side bars, the part B being expanded and at c.

All of the side bars upon one side of the chain are duplicates of each other. The side bars upon the opposite side'of the chain are also duplicates of each other, and are constructedas follows:

E is the intermediate portion,provided with two gripping or clasping ears, 6 e. The part F is expanded and provided with a circular seat to receive the pintle, and is of less thickness than the intermediate part, E, so' that there is a shoulder at f. The part G is also expanded in diameter and provided with a tubular extension or sleeve, D, which forms a seat to receive the pintle and also fits within the anti-friction roller.

l. l is a keeper-plate, the part I of which is provided with an oblong or rectangular central slot. The shank portion I of this keeper is firmly attached to the intermediate part, E, of the side bar, preferably by means of the gripping or grasping ears 6 e, in such position that its opening shall be substantially opposite to the pintle-seat, which is formed in or constituted by the tubular extension D'D of the adjacent links.

In practice I propose to cast the ears 6 6 upon theintermediate part, E, and projecting at right angles therefrom, as shown at the right-hand end of Figs. 1 and 3, so as to facilitate drawing the pattern from the sand; and as these side bars are usually made of malleable iron, the cars can be bent down upon the shank I of the keeper after the latter has been placed in proper position, as is indicated at the center of Figs. 1 and 3 and at the right-hand end of Figs. 7 and 8; but I do not wish to be limited to either of these modes of attaching the keeper to the side bar, because it might be done in many other ways. For instance, the keeper might have a circular or angular hole in it, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 13, the side bar being cast with a corresponding lug, which might be riveted down after the keeper is placed in position; or thelugs might be cast with groovesin their inner faces to receivethe edges of the shank of the keeper, the inner end of which might be upset after insertion, so as to hold it firmly in place; or other modified constructions might be employed to hold the keeper in place.

By preference, I construct the keeper with an offset or shoulder at I, so as to increase the width of the throat or space between the enlarged end I and the adjacent face of the part C of the side bar.

K L M is the pintle, the part K being circu;

I lar in cross-section, except as hereinafter noted. The part K is of such diameter as to fit closely within the seats formed for the reception in the tubular extensions D D and in the adjacent ends of the next pair of side bars, and is provided at one end with a lug or spur, k, which enters the notch b, so as to prevent the pintle from turning round relative to the ends of the side bars.

M is a fiat head. At its opposite end the pintle is reduced in diameter and provided with a locking-plate, L, which is oblong or rectangular in shape, its width being about equal to the diameter of the reduced portion or shank of the pintle, its longer diameter being about equal to the greater diameter of the part K of the pint-1e, thus leaving a throat, Z, which is adapted to receive the keeper, as will be explained.

By an examination of the drawings it will be readily understood that when the side bars are in the posit-ion shown in Fig. 3 the pintle can be thrust through them, and also through the keeper of it, the pintle being held in such position that the lug I; will enter the notch b,- and it will be understood that if, after the pintle has thus been thrust into place, the links be straightened out, the pintle will be turned a quarter of the way round by reason of the engagement of the log with the notch. Thus the locking-plate L will be turned crosswise of the opening I in the keeper, so that it (the pintle) cannot be withdrawn from the side bars. Therefore the parts of the chain will be held firmly in proper working position, except when moved into the unusual relative position shown in Fig. 3.

H H are anti-friction rollers mounted upon the sleeves ortubular extensions; but I do not wish to be limited to the employment of these rollers, because under many circumstances the chain will operate satisfactorily without them. By reason of the parts (J, F, and G being thinner than theintermediate parts, A E, respectively, of the links the outer edges of the chain are in substantially parallel planes, thus constituting what is commonly known as a ribbon chain.

\Vhile in ordinary practice I prefer to make this chain of malleable iron, yet I do not wish to be limited thereby, as it may be made of any suitable material.

I am aware that chains have heretofore been made with shoulders in many respects like those at af, which snbserved a useful purpose in preventing the links from moving transversely to the pintles when the links were in ordinary working position, the construction of these earlier chains being such, however, that said movements of the links relative to the pintles was requisite when connecting or disconnecting the members of the chain; nor do I wish to be limited to making the side bars with the tubular extensionsupon which the anti-friction rollers are mounted, because they might be omitted,in which latter case the antifriction rollers might be mounted directly upon the pintle, though I prefer the construction shown, because these tubular extensions increase the durability of the chain by fu rnishing a greater extent of wez'iring-surface to bear upon the pintles. It will also be seen that the space between the keeper and the end G of the link constitutes a throat for the reception of one end ofthe adjacent side bar.

I will now describe the construction of the carrier-sections and the wheels adapted to support-and actuate them, together with the chain.

N is a sprocket-wheel provided with a series of projecting teeth, n, adapted to engage with the centrally open links of a drivingchain, which, by preference, is provided with a series ofa-uti-friction rollers surrounding the pintles or end bars which unite adjacent links of the chain, as has been fully explained.

O O O O is one of the open-ended carriersections or trough-sections. Each ot'the ends 0 projects beyond the end of the bottom section, and the part 0 is beveled oil or rounded, for a purpose which will soon be explained. The bottom 0 is made, by preference, a little longer than the distance between the centers of the end bars of the links to which the carrier-sections are attached. According to one plan the middle portion of the bottom of each section is sunken or depressed some distance below the ends, as at o", for a purpose which will soon be explained. I propose to make these conveyer-sections of sheet metal, striking them up or swaging theminto proper form, either by hand or by use of proper machinery; or they may be made of cast metal, preferably of malleable iron. They should be rigidly attached to the chain-links by rivets, screws, or similarappliances, and in practice I propose to cast the links with upward and laterally projecting ears or wings P 1), through which rivets may pass into and through the bottoms of the conveyer-sections; or the side bars of the links or the laterally-projecting ears may have upwardly projecting spurs adapted to pass through holes in the middle portions of the bottom 0, and then be riveted down.

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, these carriersections are secured upon the links in such positions that one end of the bottom of each section overlaps slightly the adjacent end of the next section in the series, which overlapped end is arranged about on a line with the center of the end bar or of the pintle or pivot immediately below it, the opposite end of the bottom projecting slightly beyond the center of the pivot of the forward end of the same link. (See Fig. 1.) Theends O O of the sides of the trough-section overlap the ends of the sides of the adjacent troughsection, thus in suring a practically continuous and unbroken trough or conveyer when the chain and conveyer are passed around the sprocket-wheel; but this overlapping need not be of the extent shown in the drawings, although I prefer to so construct them thattheends of twoadjacent sections shall not be separated when passing around the wheel, in order to insure that they shall overlap when straightening out without the ends abutting against each other. I prefer that the rear overlapping end of each trough-section shall be arranged on about a line with the center of the end bar or pintle immediately below it, the opposite end of the same bottom projecting slightly beyond the center of the pivot of the forward end of the samelink. (See Fig. 1.)

The object in beveling off or rounding the portionso oofthe sides of the conveyer-section is to prevent the corners e e from projecting above the sides e when passing around the sprocket-wheels.

. Although I propose under some circumstances to employ two lines of chain as a support forthe conveyer,Ido not wishto belimited thereby, because under many circumstances a singleline ofchain can be used advantageously. the bottom of such carrier-section being attached tothe side bars of each link of the chain or of each alternate link ofthe chain. Nor do I wish to be limited to the employment of a drive-chain having centrally-open links, because the trough-scctions might be applied to any suitable chain adapted to traverse grooved wheels; or the sections might be connected to a rope or Itelt under such construction and arrangement of parts as to form a practically continuous conveyer.

I have shown each of these sections constructed with central transverse partitions,o", which is desirable whenever it is necessary to incline the chain at verymuch of an angle,in order to prevent the material from slipping backward in a trough; lmt under many circumstanees, particularly when the conveyer is to run in a nearly horizontal position, these partitions may be omitted, because the con veyer-section about equal in length to two of 0 the chain-links, each section being attached near one end to one of the links, yet I do not wish to be limited thereby, as under some cir-' cumstances the sections may about equal in length the links, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein each section is attached near its cen' ter to the center of one of the links.

Under some circumstances I propose to employ two supporting ribs or ways-one arranged upon each side ofthe trough-eonveyer to be-traversed by the lugs or arms which project on either side of each of the troughsections, and I also propose to employ supporting-rollers R R, to be traversed'by the under line or empty line of trough'sections, which are in an inverted position, and, when preferred, these latter referred to suppo rtingrollers may be made of such width as to enter between the sides of the trough-sections and engage with the bottoms 0'.

As a modification, the trough sections may have parallel sides, the alternate sections being wide enough to receive the ends of the intermediate sections, as indicated in Figs. l6, l7, and 18, although, under ordinary circumstances, I prefer to make each sect-ion with converging sides, so that one end of each section shall receive the end of the section immediately in advance. It will of course be understood that the ways or tracks N are to be firmly supported so that they shall support the weight of the upper line of conveyer without-undue deflection.

I am aware that it is old to construct elevators of a series of separate and independent buckets mounted upon and carried bya drivechain composed of separate detachable links, and hence I do not claim as my invention elevators of this class; but the conveyor herein described differs very materially from such earlier forms of elevators, in that, instead of a series of separate elevatorbuckets, each complete in itself and adapted to elevate material in a vertical or nearly vertical line, I employ a series of carrier-sections adapted to lie contiguously and together form an endless conveyer adapted to convey material in a hori zon al or nearly horizontal line.

I am awarethat overlapping carrier-sections or pans having bottoms and upwardly-projecting sides are old, and that such sections have been connected to form an endless carrier or conveyer by means of eyes riveted to the under sides of the bottoms of the sections and rods passing through said eyes. These rods have been extended outwardly beyond the sides of the carrier-sections, and have had mounted thereon supportingrollers adapted to travel upon rails or guides'situated at the sides of the carrier, and the carrier has been driven by means of a spider-wheel having fingers provided with semicircular ends, which engage with the projecting ends of the con necting-rods outside of the carrier-sections.

I am also aware that overlapping'carriersections or pans have been supported upon two parallel lines of chains, such chains being united together by means of cross-shafts at the j oints of the links of the chain's, thus forming an endless carrier, and that a carrier of this description has been driven by a wheel engaging with said cross-shafts between the parallel lines of chains.

I am also aware that carrier-sections or pans have been attached to single-bar links connected together by rivets or riveted pintles to form a non-detachable chain, such links being provided with lateral projections which engage with a driving wheel; but my device differs in many respects very materially from such earlier constructions. In the first place,l employ for supporting the carrier-section a separable drive-chainthat is, a chain adapted to drive or to be driven by a sprocket or other wheel, the links or component parts of which chain are separable from each other, in order that the length of the carrier may be changed Without necessitating themutilation ordestrnction of any of the parts. In the second place, my device ditfersirom such earlier constructions in providing the link which supports the carrier-section with an anti friction roller, for the purposes which havebeen described. Besides these differences, there exist many others, which will be hereinafter pointed out in the claims.

. What I claim is 1. In an endless conveyer, a drive-chain composed of separable links and connecting end bars, in combination with separable carriersections, each having a bottom plate and upwardlyprojecting sides, and means, sub stantially as described, for attaching the carrier-sections to the chain-links, substantially as set forth.

2. In an endless conveyer, a supporting and driving chain having separablelinks and end bars, in combination with separable carriersections, the bottom of each section having a length greater than the distance between the centers of the end bars of each link, the forward end of each bottom plate overlapping the rear end of the adjacent section, substantially as set forth.

3. In an endless conveyer, the combination, with an endless chain, of carrier-sections provided with lateral projections adapted to traverse a support arranged on a line parallel with the bottomof the conveyer, substantially as set forth.

4. In a conveyer, the combination, with a series of open-ended carrier sections, of the chain-links provided with anti-friction rollers and a supporting-track traversed by the rollers, substantially as set forth.

5. In a conveyer, a series of opencnded carrier-sections, in combination with a series of chain-links having anti-friction rollers'arranged below the carrier -'sections, substan-' tially as set forth 6. In a conveyer, the combination" of, an open-ended carrier-section with a cbainlink having separable side bars and an anti-friction roller supported upon the end bars, 'substantially as set forth.

'7. In a conveyer, a carrier-section having a portion of its bottom projecting downward below another portion of its bottom, in combination wit-h a chain-link having an anti-friction roller mounted thereon, substantially as set forth.

8. In a conveyer, the combination of a carrier-section with a chain-link having an antifriction roller mounted thereon, and having also its side bars expanded and projecting above the plane of the anti-friction roller, to receive the carrier-section, substantially as set forth.

9. In an endless conveyer, the combination of a series of overlapping carrier-sections having lateral projections and supports arranged on lines parallel with the bottoms of the carrier-sections and engaging with the lateral projections, substantially as set forth.

10. The herein-described conveyer-section, having a bottom, upward-proj ecting sides, and a transverse partition arranged intermediately between its ends, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination, with an endless chain and carrier-sections mounted thereon so as to form a practically continuous conveyer, of driving and supporting wheels at the ends of the chain and intermediate supporting-rollers arranged between the ends of the chain and below the lower line thereof and engaging with the carrier-sections, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination, with the drivechain and the carrier-section. of the supporting and driving wheels at the ends of the doubled chain and the intermediate supporting-wheels arranged to enter between the sides of the carrier and engage with the bottom of the carrier, substantially as set forth.

13. In an endless conveyer, carrier-sections each having its bottom recessed upon its upper surface at one end and recessed upon its lower surface at the opposite end,substantially as set forth.

14. In a conveyer, the combination of parallel lines of supporting and driving chains and a series of thin metal carrier'sections each attached at each of its ends to a single link of the chain, and having one edge underlapping an adjacent carrier-section, and having also its opposite edge overlapping an adjacent carrier section, substantially as set forth.

15. In a conveyer, the combination of parallel lines of chains having centrally-open links adapted to receive the spurs ofsprocketwheels, in combination with a series of overlapping carrier-sections attached at their ends to the chains, substantially as set forth.

16. The herein-described carrier-section, I ranged entirely outside the edges of. the sechavingathin metal supporting-plate attached tion. and supports below the conveyer for the at its ends to links of chains, the links being returning lower line of the conveyer, substanadapted to be coupled or uncoupled from sinitially as set forth. ilar links when the carrier-sections are placed I In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in I5 at about a right angle to each other, substanpresence of two witnesses. tiall y as set forth. I JOSEPH A. JEFFREY.

17. In an endless conveyer, the combination \Vitnesses: of a series of carrier-sections mounted on an KATE E. VVILLI'AMS,

1o endless chain, supports upon each section ar- 1 THOMAS H. MoCoY. 

